1. A driving circuit for driving at least one fluorescent lamp, the driving circuit comprising:
a transformer, having a primary circuit and a secondary circuit for powering the fluorescent lamp;
a regulator connected between the primary circuit and a first power terminal for regulating the current through said primary circuit, the regulator having an inductor and a switch in series;
an electronic switch;
a current sensing device connected to a second power terminal for sensing a current signal; and
a controller being arranged to receive the current signal and being arranged to control the regulator thereby to regulate the current through the primary circuit;
wherein the regulator, the primary circuit, the electronic switch and the current sensing device are connected successively in series;
characterised in that:
there is a unidirectional current path from the junction of the electronic switch and the current sensing device to the junction of the inductor and the switch of the regulator.
2. A driving circuit according to claim 1 for driving one fluorescent lamp, wherein the transformer comprises a plurality of transformers having their primary circuits connected in series and their secondary circuits arranged for connection to one fluorescent lamp.
3. A driving circuit according to claim 1 for driving a plurality of fluorescent lamps, wherein the transformer comprises a plurality of transformers having their primary circuits connected in series and their secondary circuits arranged for connection to the fluorescent lamps.
4. A driving circuit for driving at least one fluorescent lamp according to any of claims 1 to 3, having a pulse width modulator arranged to receive a predetermined voltage, and to generate an output to the regulator thereby to regulate further the current through the primary circuit.
5. A driving circuit for driving at least one fluorescent lamp according to claim 4, wherein the pulse width modulator is connected to the controller via a delay circuit, and the controller is further arranged to control the electronic switch under the influence of the pulse width modulator and the delay circuit.
6. A driving circuit for driving at least one fluorescent lamp according to any of claims 1 to 5, having a voltage sensing device arranged to detect the voltage across the primary circuit or across the primary circuit and the inductor and to generate a signal to the controller when that voltage exceeds a predetermined limit.
7. A driving circuit for driving at least one fluorescent lamp according any of the preceding claims, wherein the unidirectional current path has a diode defining the direction of the current path.
8. A driving circuit for driving one fluorescent lamp, the driving circuit comprising:
a plurality of transformers having their primary circuits connected in series and their secondary circuits arranged for connection to a fluorescent lamp;
a regulator-connected between the primary circuits and a first power terminal for regulating the current through said primary circuits;
an electronic switch;
a current sensing device connected to a second power terminal for sensing a current signal; and
a controller being arranged to receive the current signal and being arranged to control the regulator thereby to regulate the current through the primary circuits;
wherein the regulator, the primary circuits, the electronic switch and the current sensing device are connected successively in series.
9. A driving circuit for driving a plurality of fluorescent lamps, the driving circuit comprising:
a plurality of transformers having their primary circuits connected in series and their secondary circuits arranged for connection to the fluorescent lamps;
a regulator connected between the primary circuits and a first power terminal for regulating the current through said primary circuits;
an electronic switch;
a current sensing device connected to a second power terminal for sensing a current signal; and
a controller being arranged to receive the current signal and being arranged to control the regulator thereby to regulate the current through the primary circuits;
wherein the regulator, the primary circuits, the electronic switch and the current sensing device are connected successively in series.
10. A driving circuit for driving at least one fluorescent lamp, the driving circuit comprising:
a transformer for powering the fluorescent lamp;
a regulator connected between the transformer and a first power terminal for regulating the current through said transformer;
an electronic switch; and
a controller being arranged to receive a current signal and being arranged to control the regulator thereby to regulate the current through transformer;
wherein the regulator, the transformer and the electronic switch are connected successively in series;
characterised in that:
the circuit has a pulse width modulator arranged to receive a predetermined voltage as an input, and to generate an output to the regulator thereby to regulate further the current through the transformer.
11. A driving circuit according to claim 10, having a current sensing device for sensing the current signal, the current sensing device being connected in series between the electronic switch and a second power terminal.
12. A driving circuit according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the transformer has a primary circuit and a secondary circuit, the primary circuit being connected in series between the regulator and the electronic switch, and the secondary circuit being connectable to the fluorescent lamp.
13. A driving circuit for driving at least one fluorescent lamp, the driving circuit comprising:
a transformer, having a primary circuit and a secondary circuit for powering the fluorescent lamp;
a regulator connected between the primary circuit and a first power terminal for regulating the current through said primary circuit;
an electronic switch;
a current sensing device connected to a second power terminal for sensing a current signal; and
a controller being arranged to receive the current signal and being arranged to control the regulator thereby to regulate the current through the primary circuit;
wherein the regulator, the primary circuit, the electronic switch and the current sensing device are connected successively in series;
characterised in that:
the circuit has a voltage sensing device arranged to detect the voltage across the primary circuit and to generate a signal to the controller when that voltage exceeds a predetermined limit.
14. A fluorescent lamp powering circuit comprising:
a fluorescent lamp and a driving circuit according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4-8, 12 or 13, the secondary circuit of the transformer in the driving circuit being connected to the fluorescent lamp, the connection being via a ballast capacitor;
wherein the ballast capacitor is located not more than one quarter of the length of the fluorescent lamp away from said fluorescent lamp.
15. A fluorescent lamp powering circuit according to claim 14, wherein the ballast capacitor is located not more than one tenth of the length of the fluorescent lamp away from said fluorescent lamp.
16. A fluorescent lamp powering circuit comprising:
a plurality of fluorescent lamps and a driving circuit according to any one of claims 1, 3-7, 9 or 12,
wherein the secondary circuit of the transformer in the driving circuit is connected to the plurality of fluorescent lamps, the connection to each fluorescent lamp being via a corresponding ballast capacitor;
and wherein each ballast capacitor is located not more than one quarter of the length of the corresponding fluorescent lamp away from the corresponding fluorescent lamp.
17. A fluorescent lamp powering circuit according to claim 16, wherein each ballast capacitor is located not more than one tenth of the length of the corresponding fluorescent lamp away from the corresponding fluorescent lamp.
18. A fluorescent lamp powering circuit according to either claim 16 or 17, wherein the distance between each ballast capacitor and the corresponding fluorescent lamp is within 25% of a common value.
19. A fluorescent lamp powering circuit according to claim 18, wherein the distance is the same.
20. A fluorescent lamp powering circuit comprising:
a fluorescent lamp;
a transformer having a primary circuit and a secondary circuit connected to the fluorescent lamp, the connection being via a ballast capacitor;
characterised in that:
the ballast capacitor is located not more than one quarter of the length of the fluorescent lamp away from said fluorescent lamp.
21. A fluorescent lamp powering circuit comprising:
a plurality of fluorescent lamps;
a transformer having a primary circuit and a secondary circuit connected to a plurality of fluorescent lamps, the connection to each fluorescent lamp being via a ballast capacitor;
characterised in that:
each ballast capacitor is located not more than one quarter of the length of the corresponding fluorescent lamp away from said corresponding fluorescent lamp.
22. A fluorescent lamp powering circuit according to claim 20 or claim 21 further including:
a regulator connected between the primary circuit and a first power terminal for regulating the current through said primary circuit;
an electronic switch;
a current sensing device connected to a second power terminal for sensing a current signal; and
a controller being arranged to receive the current signal and being arranged to control the regulator thereby to regulate the current through the primary circuit;
wherein the regulator, the primary circuit, the electronic switch and the current sensing device are connected successively in series.
23. A current regulating circuit for regulating the current through the primary circuit of a transformer, the secondary circuit of the transformer being for powering at least one fluorescent lamp, the current regulating circuit comprising:
a regulator having a first terminal for connection to a power supply and a second terminal for connection in series to the primary circuit for regulating the current through said primary circuit, the regulator having an inductor and a switch in series;
an electronic switch having a terminal for connection in series to the primary circuit;
a current sensing device for sensing a current signal in series with the electronic switch, the current sensing device having a terminal for connection to the power supply; and
a controller being arranged to receive the current signal and being arranged to control the regulator thereby to regulate the current through the primary circuit;
characterised in that:
there is a unidirectional current path from the junction of the electronic switch and the current sensing device to the junction of the inductor and the switch of the regulator.
24. A current regulating circuit for regulating the current through the primary circuit of a transformer according to claim 23, wherein the unidirectional current path has a diode defining the direction of the current path.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A compressible axle for installing between two depressions in a frame, the compressible axle comprising:
a first portion that telescopically interfaces with a cavity in a second portion; a first end of the first portion has a first nub and a first end of the second portion has a second nub; a second end of the first portion has a well containing a lubricant, the well is sealed by a plunger except for at least one orifice through a side of the well; and
a compression spring is positioned within the cavity between an inside surface of the cavity and the plunger; the compression spring urges the first portion away from the second portion such that a closing force applied to compress the first portion further into the cavity compresses the compression spring and applies force to the plunger, thereby expelling a portion of the lubricant from the at least one orifice to lubricate an area where the first portion telescopically interfaces with the cavity in the second portion;
wherein the first nub and the second nub are sized and shaped to fit within corresponding depressions of the depressions in the frame.
2. The compressible axle of claim 1, further comprising a pull-tab affixed to either the first end of the first portion or to the first end of the second portion.
3. The compressible axle of claim 2, wherein the pull-tab includes advertising.
4. The compressible axle of claim 1, wherein the lubricant is petroleum jelly.
5. The compressible axle of claim 1, wherein the lubricant is silicon grease.
6. The compressible axle of claim 1, wherein the lubricant is dielectric silicon grease.
7. A compressible axle for installing between two depressions in a frame of a toilet paper holder, the compressible axle comprising:
a first portion that telescopically interfaces within a cavity in a second portion, a first end of the first portion has a first nub, a second end of the first portion has a well containing a lubricant, a side wall of the well has at least one orifice for emitting the lubricant, an open end of the well is sealed by a movable plunger, a first end of the second portion has a second nub; and
a compression spring is within the cavity between an inside surface of the cavity towards the first end of the second portion and the plunger; the compression spring urges the first portion away from the second portion such that a closing force applied to compress the first portion further into the cavity compresses the compression spring and thereby the compression spring applies force onto the plunger, thereby expelling a portion of the lubricant from the at least one orifice to lubricate an area where the first portion telescopically interfaces with the cavity in the second portion;
wherein the first nub and the second nub are sized and shaped to fit within corresponding depressions of the depressions in the frame.
8. The compressible axle of claim 7, further comprising a pull-tab affixed to either the first end of the first portion or to the first end of the second portion.
9. The compressible axle of claim 8, wherein the pull-tab includes advertising.
10. The compressible axle of claim 7, wherein the lubricant is petroleum jelly.
11. The compressible axle of claim 7, wherein the lubricant is silicon grease.
12. The compressible axle of claim 7, wherein the lubricant is dielectric silicon grease.
13. A compressible axle for installing between two depressions in a frame, the compressible axle comprising:
a first portion that telescopically interfaces within a cavity in a second portion, a first end of the first portion has a first nub, a second end of the first portion has means for lubricating an interface where the first portion telescopically interfaces within the cavity in the second portion, a first end of the second portion has a second nub; and
means for urging the first portion away from the second portion is within the cavity between an inside surface of the cavity towards the first end of the second portion and the plunger; the means for urging pushes the first portion away from the second portion such that a closing force applied to compress the first portion further into the cavity compresses the means for urging and thereby applies force onto the means for lubricating, thereby expelling a portion of a lubricant from the means for lubricating to lubricate an area where the first portion telescopically interfaces with the cavity of the second portion;
wherein the first nub and the second nub are sized and shaped to fit within corresponding depressions of the depressions in the frame.
14. The compressible axle of claim 13, further comprising a pull-tab affixed to either the first end of the first portion or to the first end of the second portion.
15. The compressible axle of claim 14, wherein the pull-tab includes advertising.
16. The compressible axle of claim 13, wherein the means for lubricating emits a lubricant upon receiving pressure from the means for urging;
17. The compressible axle of claim 16, wherein the lubricant is petroleum jelly.
18. The compressible axle of claim 16, wherein the lubricant is silicon grease.
19. The compressible axle of claim 16, wherein the lubricant is dielectric silicon grease.
20. The compressible axle of claim 13, wherein the means for lubricating comprises:
a well containing a lubricant, a side wall of the well has at least one orifice for emitting the lubricant, and an open end of the well is sealed by a movable plunger, the movable plunger is operatively interfaced to the means for urging.